A man in Florida is in custody after allegedly stealing nearly $770,000 worth of jewelry from a Tiffany & Co. store and swallowing the stolen items in an attempt to evade capture. The 32-year-old suspect was arrested following a daring robbery at the Mall of Millenia in Orlando on February 26.
According to authorities, the man entered the high-end jewelry store without an appointment, claiming he was there on behalf of a player for the Orlando Magic. Using the name “Shawn,” he requested to see some expensive pieces and was escorted to a VIP room by a store associate. While examining the jewelry, he allegedly took two pairs of diamond earrings valued at $769,500 and made a violent escape.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, including the moment the suspect forcefully fled the VIP room, injuring a store associate in the process. The associate, who received on-site medical attention, later provided law enforcement with details of the incident.
After exiting the store, the suspect was tracked through mall security cameras as he made his way to a vehicle in the parking lot. Law enforcement identified the vehicle’s license plate and continued to monitor its movements using public safety cameras. At some point, the suspect attempted to throw off pursuers by switching the license plates and changing his clothing, but authorities maintained visual surveillance and kept track of the vehicle’s route.
Florida Highway Patrol officers eventually located the suspect and took him into custody. However, after being arrested, the man allegedly swallowed several items believed to be the stolen jewelry. A live scan conducted at Washington County Jail revealed the presence of foreign objects in his stomach, which authorities suspected to be the missing diamond earrings. Officials stated that the items would need to be recovered once they passed through his system before confirming their identity.
During his time in custody, the suspect reportedly questioned whether he would be charged for the stolen items still inside his body, asking, “Am I going to be charged with what’s in my stomach?” He later expressed regret over his actions, saying, “I should have thrown them out the window.”
The suspect now faces multiple felony charges, including grand theft of over $100,000 and robbery with a mask. He is currently being held without bond in Orange County Corrections as the investigation continues. Authorities are awaiting the recovery of the allegedly stolen jewelry to further support the case against him.
